Executive Bios

Edsel B. Ford II – Chairman & Owner

Mr. Ford is the sole owner of Pentastar Aviation. He is the great-grandson of Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company, and continues his family’s aviation legacy through his passion for aviation and leadership of Pentastar. Mr. Ford began his career at Ford Motor Company in January 1974. He was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Ford Motor Credit Company in May 1991 and elected an officer of the Ford Motor Company in 1993. In 1988, Mr. Ford was elected to the Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company and as a consultant; he is active in company affairs and corporate dealer relations.

Rick A. Maloney – President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Maloney’s aviation career began more than 37 years ago with United Airlines where he served as Vice President of Flight and Systems Chief Pilot. He also served as the Dean of the College of Aviation at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. Mr. Maloney is known in the aviation community for his dynamic process and program management which he continues to build upon at Pentastar.

Gregory J. Schmidt - Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Schmidt is responsible for the financial affairs of Pentastar, as well as the legal, risk management, information systems, purchasing, and contract management functions. Prior to joining Pentastar, Mr. Schmidt held numerous leadership roles with Pulte Homes, Inc. including Division President and most recently as a member of the Corporate Asset Management Committee. In this position, he managed capital investment decisions in excess of $2 billion in eight states.

Lance Fera - Senior Vice President, New Business Development

Mr. Fera has more than 30 years of business aviation experience, including 22 years at Honeywell Aerospace in avionics system sales, marketing and program management leadership roles and nearly ten years at TAG Aviation in executive management positions such as vice president/general manager & senior vice president. At Pentastar, Mr. Fera is responsible for the oversight of all sales and marketing activities as well as generating new business. He has served on multiple industry boards including a stint on the Board of Directors for the Westchester County Airport Association.

Patricia A. Zikakis - Vice President Human Resources

Ms. Zikakis is responsible for driving the strategy and supporting initiatives to attract, motivate, develop and retain world-class talent in support of Pentastar Aviation’s business goals and objectives. Prior to joining Pentastar Aviation, she held human resource positions with SelectCare, First of America, Manufacturer’s Bank, Bank of Oklahoma and Marshall Field and Co. in Chicago.

Michael L. Baker - Vice President of Safety & Compliance

Mr. Baker began his career with Pentastar in 1982 as a licensed A&P Mechanic. He has held a multitude of positions of increasing responsibility including FAA/EASA Accountable Manager for Pentastar’s Repair Station Operations and the Managing Director of Maintenance for Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc.

Frank Publiski - Vice President Maintenance

Mr. Publiski began his aviation career in 1982 as a licensed A&P Mechanic.  He joined Pentastar in 1986 and has held the positions of Flight Mechanic, Lead Aircraft Mechanic, Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor and Maintenance Manager until accepting his current position in 2011.  Frank’s experience with Gulfstream aircraft spans his entire career at Pentastar.  In his current position, Mr. Publiski serves as the Accountable Manager of the Pentastar Aviation, LLC Repair Station and also as the Managing Director of Maintenance for Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc.

Danny Clifton - Vice President Flight Operations

Mr. Clifton was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United Stated Air Force and served in the USAF for more than 24 years, flying T-38s and A-10s. He has an additional two years of experience as a line pilot and three years as a chief pilot for Airborne Express, where he flew the DC-8 and DC-9. Mr. Clifton also served as Vice President and Director of Operations for the flight operations departments at Kitty Hawk Aircargo in Dallas, TX for more than three years and USA Jet Airlines at Willow Run, MI for more than two years. In his current role, Mr. Clifton oversees all flight operations activity at Pentastar, including the Operations Control Center (operating 24/7) and the University of Michigan Health System Survival Flight air medical operation.

Robert L. Sarazin - Vice President FBO Services

Mr. Sarazin has worked in various positions at Pentastar for the past 25 years. He has managed multiple FBO locations and has managed ground handling for numerous dignitaries, including Air Force One for three presidents. Mr. Sarazin has overseen large aircraft handling for entertainers, professional sports teams and intercontinental shuttle flights. He currently oversees all Fixed Base Operations for both the PTK and VNY facilities.

Laura M. Ferich - Vice President Finance and Support Services

Ms. Ferich joined Pentastar Aviation in 2001 as Accounting Manager. Since that time she has taken on roles of increasing responsibility including leadership for support departments including Accounting, Information Technology and Purchasing. In addition, Ms. Ferich is responsible for all aspects of insurable risks for the company and its managed customer fleet. Prior to joining Pentastar, Ms. Ferich worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the audit and transaction services groups.

John Scicluna - Director of Sales

Mr. Scicluna began his career in business aviation more than 14 years ago as the President of JetOne, a regional fractional jet company featuring Cessna Citation equipment. Since then, Mr. Scicluna has served as the VP of Sales, North Central States for United Airlines’ Avolar Fractional jet ownership program and VP of Business Development for Docherty Aviation where he managed aircraft acquisitions and sales. Prior to joining Pentastar Aviation, Mr. Scicluna served as Director of Charter Sales at Sentient Jet for two years.

Tim Bentley - Chief Pilot

Mr. Bentley joined Pentastar Aviation in 2007 as a Captain on a Citation Sovereign. His extensive domestic and international flight experience includes working as a pilot on corporate aircraft from 1988-2007. Promoted to Chief Pilot in Fall 2008, Mr. Bentley is responsible for overseeing the activities of roughly 60 crewmembers.

Gary Roberts - Director of Quality Control and Assurance

Mr. Roberts' began his aviation career in 1976, working as an A&P mechanic. He joined Pentastar Aviation in 1990 as an aircraft maintenance supervisor and was promoted to Director of Quality Control in 2004. Mr. Roberts assumed the responsibilities of the director of quality assurance for Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc. (PACI) in 2007. His responsibilities include managing the repair station’s quality control department and overseeing quality assurance systems for the PACI maintenance organization.

Contact one of our sales representatives today
to inquire about a quote from Pentastar Aviation
or call us today at